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[Page 3415]Among most people considering suicide, there is a tension between the wish for death (specifically, the end of suffering) and the desire to live. This entry discusses one specific type of resilience against suicide: reasons for living. Formally defined, reasons for living refer to cognitive deterrents to suicide that individuals may endorse. In essence, reasons for living are beliefs and expectations that reduce one’s risk for suicide. In both clinical and nonclinical populations, individuals with more reasons to live are less likely to think about suicide and less likely to engage in suicidal behavior. Reasons for living help reduce suicidal intent by allowing an individual to place more weight on his or her desire to live than his or her wish for death.